Soil Science (SOIL)

This is an archived copy of the 2020-21 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://bulletin.ndsu.edu.

SOIL 194. Individual Study. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 196. Field Experience. 1-15 Credits.

SOIL 199. Special Topics. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 210. Introduction to Soil Science. 3 Credits.

This is a 3-credit introductory-level course that will cover the basic principles of soil science. Topics will include the concepts of soil as a natural body, composition of soil, functions of soil, soil formation and classification, physical/chemical/biological properties of soils, and soil management and conservation. Lecture periods will consist of a combination of material presentation and in-class learning activities.

SOIL 217. Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology. 3 Credits.

Basic meteorology-climatology concepts and their application; includes energy balance, greenhouse effect, temperature, pressure systems, lows, highs, fronts, winds, clouds, storms, humidity, precipitation, and measurements. Lectures, discussions, demonstrations. S.

SOIL 264. Natural Resource Management Systems. 3 Credits.

General principles of natural resource management, including soil and water conservation, soil and wind erosion, use of tillage and vegetation for conservation, drainage, irrigation, and soil and water quality. 3 lectures. Prereq: MATH 103, MATH 104 or MATH 107. Cross-listed with ASM 264 and NRM 264.

SOIL 291. Seminar. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 292. Global Practicum: Study Abroad. 1-15 Credits.

Pre-Arranged study at accredited foreign institutions (study abroad), domestic institutions (National Student Exchange) or on approved study abroad programs. Pre-requisite: Sophomore standing and prior approval by International Student and Study Abroad Services and major department. Graded 'P'or 'F' (Undergraduate), or 'S' or 'U' (Graduate).

SOIL 294. Individual Study. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 299. Special Topics. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 322. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers. 3 Credits.

Principles of plant nutrition and soil nutrient availability; soil testing and fertilizer recommendations and management. Macronutrient emphasis. 2 lectures, 1 two-hour laboratory. Prereq: SOIL 210, CHEM 121, CHEM 121L. S.

SOIL 351. Soil Ecology. 3 Credits.

Principles of soil-plant-animal interactions and their influences on environmental and agricultural issues of global significance (e.g. sustainable agriculture, global climate change, diversity conservation. Prereq: SOIL 210.

SOIL 379. Global Seminar. 1-6 Credits.

NDSU instructed experience or field study in a foreign country. Conducted in English for residence credit. Pre-requisite: Prior approval by International Student and Study Abroad Services and major department. May be repeated. Standard Grading.

SOIL 391. Seminar. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 392. Global Practicum: Study Abroad. 1-15 Credits.

Pre-Arranged study at accredited foreign institutions (study abroad), domestic institutions (National Student Exchange) or on approved study abroad programs. Pre-requisite: Sophomore standing and prior approval by International Student and Study Abroad Services and major department. Graded 'P'or 'F' (Undergraduate), or 'S' or 'U' (Graduate).

SOIL 394. Individual Study. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 397. Fe/Coop Ed/Internship. 1-4 Credits.

SOIL 399. Special Topics. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 410. Soils and Land Use. 3 Credits.

Principles of chemistry, physics and biology will be used to determine the effects of soil management, agrichemical usage, livestock production, and vegetation on the environment using scales ranging from microsite to watershed. Prereq: SOIL 210, CHEM 121, CHEM 121L.{Also offered for graduate credit - see SOIL 610.}.

SOIL 433. Soil Ecohydrology and Physics. 3 Credits.

Introduction of the fate and transport of water, heat, and solutes in soils of natural ecosystems and agricultural landscapes with focus on the physical characteristics of soil, fluxes across interfaces, and prediction of flows within and across the vadose zone and the critical zone. Application of concepts and predictions to real-world scenarios and case studies. Prereq: SOIL 210, PHYS 211. {Also offered for graduate credit - see SOIL 633.}.

SOIL 444. Soil Genesis and Survey. 3 Credits.

Introduction to soil genesis, morphology, geography and soil survey, 2 lectures, 1 four-hour laboratory (first 10 weeks only) focuses on soil description and properties in situ. Prereq: SOIL 210. F {Also offered for graduate credit - see SOIL 644.}.

SOIL 447. Microclimatology. 3 Credits.

Characteristics and causes of the climate near the ground and its interaction with living organisms. Energy and mass transfer concepts. Lectures, discussions, demonstrations, field trips. Prereq: PHYS 211. F (odd years) {Also offered for graduate credit - see SOIL 647.}.

SOIL 452. Managing Natural and Rangeland Resources using GIS. 3 Credits.

The application of Geographic Information Systems to managing natural and rangeland resources will be investigated. Different natural and rangeland resource datasets, analysis methods, and software packages will be utilized. Cross-listed with NRM and RNG. {Also offered for graduate credit - See SOIL 652.}.

SOIL 454. Wetland Resources Management. 3 Credits.

Principles of wetland systems, wetland management, wetland functions, wetland delineation, wetland assessment, and wetland improvement. Prereq: SOIL 210. Cross-listed with NRM 454 and RNG 454. F (even years) {Also offered for graduate credit - see SOIL 654.}.

SOIL 456. Ecological Restoration. 3 Credits.

This course reviews ecological concepts inherent to ecosystem structure and function, including plant, soil, and animal ecology, and ecosystem response to disturbance. Furthermore, the course will illustrate how this ecological knowledge is used along with socioeconomic information to develop and implement effective restoration projects in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Prereq: RNG 136. Cross-listed with NRM and RNG. {Also offered for graduate credit - See NRM 656.}.

SOIL 462. Natural Resource and Rangeland Planning. 3 Credits.

Capstone experience for School of Natural Resources Sciences majors: students use advanced planning tools and different management strategies to demonstrate integrated knowledge in managing public and private natural resources. Prereq: at least senior standing and must be a Natural Resources Management, Range Science or Soil Science major. Cross-listed with NRM and RNG. {Also offered for graduate credit - see SOIL 662.}.

SOIL 465. Soil And Plant Analysis. 3 Credits.

Laboratory analysis of soil, plant, and environmental materials for constituent elements. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prereq: SOIL 210, CHEM 121, CHEM 122. S (odd years) {Also offered for graduate credit - see SOIL 665.}.

SOIL 491. Seminar. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 492. Global Practicum: Study Abroad. 1-15 Credits.

Pre-Arranged study at accredited foreign institutions (study abroad), domestic institutions (National Student Exchange) or on approved study abroad programs. Pre-requisite: Sophomore standing and prior approval by International Student and Study Abroad Services and major department. Graded 'P'or 'F' (Undergraduate), or 'S' or 'U' (Graduate).

SOIL 494. Individual Study. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 496. Field Experience. 1-15 Credits.

SOIL 499. Special Topics. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 610. Soils and Land Use. 3 Credits.

Principles of chemistry, physics and biology will be used to determine the effects of soil management, agrichemical usage, livestock production, and vegetation on the environment using scales ranging from microsite to watershed. {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see SOIL 410.}.

SOIL 633. Soil Ecohydrology and Physics. 3 Credits.

Introduction of the fate and transport of water, heat, and solutes in soils of natural ecosystems and agricultural landscapes with focus on the physical characteristics of soil, fluxes across interfaces, and prediction of flows within and across the vadose zone and the critical zone. Application of concepts and predictions to real-world scenarios and case studies. {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see SOIL 433.}.

SOIL 644. Soil Genesis and Survey. 3 Credits.

Introduction to soil genesis, morphology, geography and soil survey, 2 lectures, 1 four-hour laboratory (first 10 weeks only) focuses on soil description and properties in situ. F {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see SOIL 444.}.

SOIL 647. Microclimatology. 3 Credits.

Characteristics and causes of the climate near the ground and its interaction with living organisms. Energy and mass transfer concepts. Lectures, discussions, demonstrations, field trips. F (odd years) {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see SOIL 447.}.

SOIL 652. Managing Natural and Rangeland Resources using GIS. 3 Credits.

The application of Geographic Information Systems to managing natural and rangeland resources will be investigated. Different natural and rangeland resource datasets, analysis methods, and software packages will be utilized. Cross-listed with NRM and RNG. {Also offered for undergraduate credit - See SOIL 452.}.

SOIL 654. Wetland Resources Management. 3 Credits.

Principles of wetland systems, wetland management, wetland functions, wetland delineation, wetland assessment, and wetland improvement. Cross-listed with NRM 654 and RNG 654. F (even years) {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see SOIL 454.}.

SOIL 656. Ecological Restoration. 3 Credits.

This course reviews ecological concepts inherent to ecosystem structure and function, including plant, soil, and animal ecology, and ecosystem response to disturbance. Furthermore, the course will illustrate how this ecological knowledge is used along with socioeconomic information to develop and implement effective restoration projects in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Cross-listed with NRM and RNG. {Also offered for undergraduate credit - See SOIL 456.}.

SOIL 662. Natural Resource and Rangeland Planning. 3 Credits.

Capstone experience for School of Natural Resources Sciences majors: students use advanced planning tools and different management strategies to demonstrate integrated knowledge in managing public and private natural resources. Cross-listed with NRM and RNG. {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see SOIL 462.}.

SOIL 665. Soil And Plant Analysis. 3 Credits.

Laboratory analysis of soil, plant, and environmental materials for constituent elements. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. S (odd years.) {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see SOIL 465.}.

SOIL 690. Graduate Seminar. 1-3 Credits.

SOIL 695. Field Experience. 1-15 Credits.

SOIL 696. Special Topics. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 721. Environmental Field Instrumentation and Sampling. 2 Credits.

To provide an overview of the tools (manual and electronic) concepts, and theories used to sample for physical, chemical, and biological parameters. F (odd years) (Two one-hour lectures and one four-hour laboratory per week.).

SOIL 733. Advanced Soil Nutrient Cycling. 3 Credits.

Overview of origins, nature, fate, and measurements of organic matter in soils, with specific focus on microbially-mediated, physical, and chemical processing of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other plant nutrients. Three lectures per week. Offered spring semester, even years.

SOIL 755. Soil Chemistry. 3 Credits.

Chemical reactions and equilibria, solubility relationships, mineral weathering, cation and anion adsorption, redox reactions, metal chelation, and fixation of nutrients in the soil. 3 lectures. F.

SOIL 763. Advanced Soil Hydrology and Physics. 3 Credits.

Theory of the fate and transport of water, heat, and solutes in soils with focus on analytical and numerical modeling across scales of individual pores, soil horizons, the vadose zone, and the critical zone. Prereq: SOIL 633.

SOIL 782. Precision Agriculture Principles for Nutrient Management. 3 Credits.

Advanced study of soil-plant-nutrient relationships with emphasis on precision agricultural concepts. 3 lectures.

SOIL 790. Graduate Seminar. 1-3 Credits.

SOIL 791. Temporary/Trial Topics. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 792. Graduate Teaching Experience. 1-6 Credits.

SOIL 793. Individual Study/Tutorial. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 794. Practicum/Teaching. 1-8 Credits.

SOIL 795. Field Experience. 1-15 Credits.

SOIL 796. Special Topics. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 797. Master's Paper. 1-3 Credits.

SOIL 798. Master's Thesis. 1-10 Credits.

SOIL 892. Graduate Teaching Experience. 1-6 Credits.

SOIL 893. Individual Study. 1-5 Credits.

SOIL 899. Doctoral Dissertation. 1-15 Credits.